To write quickly and clearly, it’s helpful to think like a reporter. One way to do that is to write “What strikes me?” and spend a few minutes absorbing the details and points you want to make. Read on for more tips.

Like many drivers, Jackie Shannon knows the frustration of being stuck in traffic at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. Her precious cargo? Baby oysters. A new floating oyster restoration facility will streamline the process and lead to more oysters and cleaner rivers that flow to the Chesapeake Bay. The Hampton Roads Community Foundation gave Chesapeake Bay Foundation a grant for the project.

A friend sent me a message asking “is AP style still relevant in corporate communications?” “Of course!” roared this former AP reporter. But WHY? For one thing, following AP’s well-accepted guidelines will help make your writing clear, concise and credible.

Thomas Stokes was a friendly, open guy with a warm smile. He lacked health insurance, was on disability and had been homeless for three years. He was grateful for the med students providing free healthcare to people in need through Street Health, part of EVMS’s Community Engaged Learning program.

During a webinar for the Public Relations Society of America’s Hampton Roads chapter, Nealy Gihan of Purple Inked and I discussed issues such as writing too long, using meaningless quotes, not using storytelling — and more.

if you want to be clear in your communications, simplicity is best. Emulate Ernest Hemingway and cut out that scrollwork. To make your message stand out: use plain words, eliminate jargon, write in short sentences, use active voice, avoid adverbs and organize with bullet points.